Sunday, 19 September 2010

Been busy away from the allotment coping with the opportunities autumn presents. This year we planned to make elderberry flower champagne, but in the blink of an eye (or 40 blinks at any rate) the opportunity passed. One result was more Elderberries! So when I saw the berries were ripening I was determined to catch that wave. Here's the result which are currently fermenting away in a polytub with the satisfying (and reassuring) accompaniment of the glug glug as the gas vents through the water trap on the top. There could be some good drinking - in about a years time!

Plums is another seasonal bounty. We've had at least 10 kilos so far and there's more to come. Last year we tried two recipes. One quick and fresh tasting and the other boiling fo 3 hours. The first was good but the second brilliant! We ate all we made well before Christmas. So this year its all recipe 2. There's a video whic is enjoyable in itself on youtube. Search for "Under the Tuscan Gun Plum Jam" and you'll find it. The only amendment I make is to add the skinned kernals from inside half a dozen stones. Although they contain a toxic substance when raw this is dissipated in the cooking and I attribute the depth of flavour to this, along with the long cooking.

Sunday, 5 September 2010

Winter stalwarts artechokes and leeks, with rhubarb which is the earliest to crop but still going strong nearly six months later!

Beans:

This year I’ve grown: French beans and runners for eating in the pod, and Barlotti and Canadian Wonder for drying. Amongst the “dwarf” beans there was an interloper. One plant started spreading vigorously and scrambling up the cane supports. After a few attempts to nip out the growing point I rather left it and its more subdued neighbours to get on with it, figuring that it would do more harm than good to attempt to disentangle and uproot the marauding intruder. At first I thought that I’d mixed up one of my climbers with the dwarf beans. But now that the pods have appeared I can rule this out – because the pods are purple. I haven’t grown any purple podded beans for over 15 years. So the question is this a mutation a cross or a cuckoo in the nest?

Barlotti

Red Kidney Beans

??? Any suggestions ???

Tomatoes

My first tomatoes are ripening - Sungold.

The Ailsa Craig, Moneymaker and Gardeners Delight have got some way to go yet. It's driving me bananas!!!

Raspberries

First year and already settling in nicely.

Kale
Couldn't resist this.

Parsley
I was determined to grow what we eat, and as a good tabouleh requires acres of parsley. (This was more successful than my attempts to grow coriander without it running to seed)

Carrots and Parsnip
After my earlier frustrations the later sown carrots have come good under their nets when i finally plucked up the courage to lift them. I can build on the experience. The parsnips look lush and green on top. It bodes well.

UK Veg Gardeners

About Me

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Edinburgh allotment holder for 20 years. Still trying to master the skills. Married with four children. A keen home bread baker and photographer.